Railing assembly



July 6, 1965 c. cHIoN 3,193,228

RAILING ASSEMBLY Filed March 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /0 4o FIG. 4INVENTOR CHR/5T CH/ON Juy 6, 1,965 c., CHION 3,193,228

RAILING ASSEMBLY Filed March 24 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHR/S T C H/ON BY 471mm/ A v- Tom/c Ys United States Patent Otitice3,193,228 Patented July 6, 1965 3,193,228 rirllallslG ASSEMELY ChristChien, Plainview, NX., assigner to Alian- .ervis Marine, Inc.,I-Iicitsvilie, ILY., Fitted 24, M564, Ser. No. 354.2% 7 Ciairns. (Ct.24S-HLM) This invention relates to railing assemblies, and moreparticularly to railing assemblies for supporting railing posts at apredetermined rake, irrespective of the slope or slant of the structureon which the posts are supported.

The invention may be used, for example, in railings installed on thedecks of boats where the slant of the deck may vary along dilferentportions of the desk. In itting a railing on the decks of such boats, itis desirous that all the posts of the railing extend from the deck at orsubstantially constant rake or angle relative to the horizontal orrelative to some other xed plane of reference. Since as mentionedbefore, the slant of such decks often varies, the means for supportingthe posts must take into account such variations in order to provide theconstant rake.

A constant rake may be obtained, for example, by providing individualposts each having fixed thereto support ianges with a different anglebetween the plane of the support ilange and the longitudinal center lineof the post whereby a particular post is selected, depending on theparticular slant of the deck. This has the disadvantage that a wideselection of supports has to be kept in stock or otherwise madeavailable to meet individual requirements.

it is also possible to provide support anges each having the sameconfiguration and individually shaped iilter pieces between the deck andthe support i'lange. This has the disadvantage that the support flangewill not be ush mounted on the deck and will therefore mar itsappearance. Also, each such filter piece will have to be individuallyshaped, or a wide selection of filler pieces must be made available tomeet each particular' requirement.

it is an object of the present invention to avoid and overcome theforegoing and other diiiiculties by providing a novel and improvedrailing7 assembly for the posts of a railing of the general kind abovereferred to, which will result in a constant rake of the postsindependently of the slope of the deck on which the railing is mounted.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved railing assembly whichis adjustable to vary the angle between the general plane of the supportiiange and the angle of the railing posts.

Still another object is to provide a novel and improved railing assemblywhich may be mass produced to iit on boat decks and other structureshaving plane surfaces or" varying angles while providing a constant raketo the railing posts.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved railing assemblywhich has a simple structure and which may be produced inexpensively.

The aforesaid objects and other objects which will become apparent asthe description proceeds, are achieved by providing a flange having asupport portion rising from the plane of the ilange slanted to form anacute angle therewith. The flange receives the railing post rotatable inreference thereto and may be mounted on the deck in any selected angularposition in reference thereto so that the Spatial position of the planeof the flange may be varied to iit flush on a deck having varyingslanted surfaces. The post is then placed at the desired rake and it ismounted by simply turning the support in reference to the post until itis parallel to the deck.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should behad to the accompanying drawings,

wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat on which is installed a railingassembly according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of one type of a railing assemblyaccording to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the railing assembly according to FIG. 2in assembled condition.

FiG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another type of a railingassembly according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View of the railing assembly according to FIG. 4in assembled condition.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of still another type of the railing assemblyaccording to the invention in assembled condition.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of the joint oy which the post ofthe railing assembly is joined to a rail of the assembly.

FiG. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view of a typical intermediate railing section.

FIG. 1() is a plan view of a typical bow section of a railing assemblyaccording to the invention, and

FIG. ll is a view of a typical aft section of the railing assembly.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed isfor the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing, a railing assembly according to the inventionis shown installed by way of illustration on the deck lit of a boat.Since the decks of boats are not generally formed as a continuous flatplane, the deck it) illustrated in FIG. l is shown as having a generallyhorizontal at bow portion 12 and portions extending to the stern of theboat which slope downwardly at different angles toward the sterrn andthe sides of the boat. Line X of FIG. l, for example, represents aportion 14 of the general plane of the deck which slopes downwardly tothe stern and the sides of the boat while line Y represents anotherportion i6 of the deck which slopes only toward the sides.

In order to install a railing assembly having posts with a constant rakeon such a sloping deck, the support means for the posts must obviouslycompensate for such varying slopes.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 in detail, the railing assembly Ishown inthese igures may be installed on any part of the boat deck shown in FIG.l, irrespective of the slant thereof.

The railing assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a lower support member20, an upper support member 21 and a tubular railing post 22.

The lower support member 20 is in the form of an annular iiat ange 23from which arises a generally cupshaped portion 24. Portion 24 is placedat a slant in reference to the plane of flange 23 such that a part ofthe rim of portion 24 is level or substantially level with ange 23. Theflange 23 has several circumferentially spaced mounting holes 25 topermit a convenient mounting of support member 2G on the boat deck, forinstance by means of wood screws 26. The bottom 24a of portion 24 has acentral opening from which an upwardly directed peripheral flange 24hextends.

The upper support portion 21 also comprises a at annular ange 30provided with circumferentially spaced mounting holes 31. A generallycup-shaped portion 32 rises from flange 30 at a slant such that part ofthe rim of portion 32 is at or substantially at the level of flange 3f).The bot-tom 32a of cup portion 32 includes an opening 3217. The rise orheight of cup portion 24 is slightly less than that of cup portion 32 sothat when lthe two support members are nested in each other as shown inFIG. 3 an annular space 35 is defined between the bottoms of the two cupportions. This space serves to receive a peripheral flange 35 providedat the end of the tubular railing post 22.

In order to mount the railing assembly according to FIGS. 2 and 3,support member 21 is slipped upon the flanged end of post 22 and thelower support is then nested in support member 21. Flange 24b of supportmember 20 will penetrate into the hollow post to steady the same andflange 35 of the post is held between bottoms 24a `and 32a of thecup-shaped portions. The flat flanges 23 and 3f? are in superimposition.All the components now occupy the positions shown in FIG. 3.

The post is shown in FIG. 3 as defining a selected acute angle with boatdeck 10. As was pointed out in connection with FIG. 1, the slant of theboat deck in reference to the` position of the railing post is not thesame at all portions of the boat deck. As was further pointed out, -itis desirable and it is the purpose of the invention to install therailing assembly so that all the railing posts `occupy the same angle ofslant or rake, irrespective of the slant of the boat deck at the pointat which a particular post is to -be mounted. t

The railing assembly of the invention permits mounting of each railingpost at such fixed angle of rake irrespective of the slant of the boatdeck. As is evident, joint rotation of support members Ztl and 21 inrespect to post 22, which may be considered as spatially fixed, willplace the two support members, and more particularly the superimposedflanges 23 and 30 thereof in different positions of slant in referenceto the post. Accordingly, the two support members may be turned intoangular positions in which the annular flanges are parallel with theboat deck. The support members are then secured to the deck by means ofscrew 26.

As is shown in FIG. 1, all the railings have the same rake irrespectiveof the varying slants of the boat deck.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a railing assembly which employs the same principleas has been described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. The uppersupport member of the assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5 is the same as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 yand is hence designated by reference numeral 21. However,the lower support member of FIGS. 2 and 3 is vreplaced by a rounded, forinstance semi-spherical member 40. This member need not be secured todeCk 10, but may 'be simply nested in support member 21 when the same ismounted. As is shown in FIG. 5, member 40 protrudes into the flanged endof post 22, thus in effect forming a mounting space in which flange 35of tubular post 36 is received, thus holding the post in position andsteadying the same similar to the steadying effected by bottom portions24a, 32a and flange 24b.

Adjustment of support member 21 is again effected by rotating the samein reference to post 22 into an angular position in which annular flange23 lrests fully upon the deck portion selected for the installation of aparticular post.

FIG. 6 shows in effect a combination of the designs shown in FIGS. 2, 3and 4, 5. The upper support portion 21 is the same as is used in FIGS. 2through 5, but the lower support member is shown as comprising arounded, for instance semi-cylindrical portion 50 rising from an annularflange 5I. The mounting and function of the railing assembly accordingto FIG. 6 are evident from the previous description. It suflices to saythat support member 21 is first slipped upon the flanged end of theVpost and that the lower support member is then nested in the uppersupport member and the post. The two support members are then againrotated until they match the slant of the deck. Finally, the assembly issecured with screws 26 or other suitable fastening means.

The upper end of each post is suitably secured to a railing section.According to FIGS. 7 and 8 the upper end of post 22 is flattened to forma mounting portion 60. This portion extends through a lengthwise slot 61of a tubular rail section 5.3. Section 62 is telescoped in a railsection 63 and secured therein by rivets 64 or Welding. A second railsection also provided With a longitudinal slot 66 is then pushed uponrail section 62 and secured by a nut and bolt 67 or suitable meansextending through mounting holes 68, 69 and '70 in portions 60, 62 and65, as shown in FIG. 8.

The entire railing along the deck is composed of sections similar tothose described, though varying in shape in accordance with the shape ofthe deck portion for which they are intended. FIG. 9 shows a typicalinter-mediate section 71. FIG. 10 shows a box section 72'and FIG. 11

`shows an aft section 73. The mounting of the sections is evident fromthe previous description.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certainnow preferred examples land embodiments of the invention, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A railing assembly for mounting upon a support structure having agenerally flat surface, said assembly comprising a post, and mountingmeans, said mounting means including a base member having a flange and ahollow projection extending from the flange beyond the plane thereof,and a support member having a flange and a hollow projection protrudingfrom the plane of said flange, said hollow projection of the supportmember having Ian opening for receiving one end of the post to supportsaid post in a position defining an acute angle relative to the plane ofthe flange of the'support member, and fastening means for securing bothsaid flanges to each -other'and to said support structure, said hollowprojections `and to said support structure, said hollow projectionscomplementing each other to define a cavity the walls of which supportthe post in said position.

2. A railing assembly, said assembly compirisng a lower support memberhaving a flange and a hollow projection protruding from the plane of theflange, an upper support member having a flange and a hollow projetcionprotruding from the plane of the flange thereof, said upper supportmember and said lower support member complementing each to a structurein which said flanges occupy parallel positions and said projectionsextend in the same directions in reference to said flanges to form acavity having an axis which defines an acute angle relative to theplanes of the flanges and a post having a flange at one end, saidprojection of the upper support member having an opening for rotatablyreceiving said post, said flange of the post cooperating with the wallsdefining said cavity for supporting said post at a selected acute anglerelative to the planes of the flanges of the support members.

3. A railing assembly for mounting upon a substantially flat surface,said assembly comprising a railing post having an annular flange at oneend, and a pair of complementary support members, each of said supportmembers having a flat flange portion and a generally cup-shaped portionrising from said flange portion at a slant in reference thereto, therise of one of said cup-shaped portions being shorter than that of theother portion, the higher one of said portions having an opening in itsbottom whereby upon nesting the shorter portion in the other portion thetwo flange portions are superimposed and an annular space is definedbetween the bottoms of Said two cup-shaped portions for receivingtherebetween the flange of said post through said bottom opening tosupport said support members rotatable about the post at a variableslant in reference thereto, the flange portions of said support membersbeing attachable to said at surface in said superimposed positions.

4. A railing assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said railing postis hollow and the shorter one of said cup-shaped portions has a collarprotruding from the bottom of said portion into the flanged end of thepost to steady the same.

5. A railing assembly for mounting upon a substantially flat surface,said assembly comprising a railing post having an annular flange at oneend, and a pair of support members, each of said support members havinga flat flange portion and one of said support members have a generallycup-shaped portion rising from the respective flange portion at a slantin reference thereto, the bottom of said cup-shaped portion including anopening, the other of said suport members having a rounded portionrising from the respective ange portion whereby upon nesting the roundedportion into the cup-shaped portion the two flange portions aresuperimposed and an annular space is defined between the bottom of thecup-shaped portion and the rounded portion for receiving therebetweenthe ange of said post extended through said opening to support thesupport members rotatable about the post at a slant variable inreference thereto, the flange portions of said two support members beingattachable to said flat surfaces in said superimposed positions.

6. A railing assembly for mounting upon a substantially at surface, saidassembly comprising a hollow railing post, and a pair of supportmembers, one of said members having a flat flange and a generallycup-shaped portion rising from the ange at a slant in reference thereto,the bottom of said cup-shaped portion including an opening, the other ofsaid support members having a generally semi-spherical portion wherebyupon nesting the semispherical portion into the cup-shaped portion anannular space is defined between said two portions for receiving throughsaid bottom opening the flange of said post to support said one supportmember rotatable about the post at a slant variable in referencethereto, the frange of said one support member being attachable to saidsurface, and said other support member in the nested position thereofprotruding into the anged end of the post to steady the same.

7. A railing assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the other end ofsaid post terminates in a attened portion, and wherein said assemblyfurther comprises a tubular rail member having a lengthwise slot in itswall, said flattened portion of the post being receiving in said slot,and fastening means extending through said rail member and saidflattened post portion to secure said attened post portion to the railmember.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,172,137 9/39Ewing 287-54 2,580,045 12/51 Reed 248-l88 2,710,053 6/55 Hamilton248-163 3,055,024 9/62 Schmitt 9-1 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

1. A RAILING ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING UPON A SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING AGENERALLY FLAT SURFACVE, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A POST, AND MOUNTINGMEANS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A BASE MEMBER HAVING A FLANGE AND AHOLLOW PROJECTION EXTENDING FROM THE FLANGE BEYOND THE PLANE THEREOF,AND A SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING A FLANGE AND A HOLLOW PROJECTION PROTRUDINGFROM THE PLANE OF SAID FLANE, SAID HOLLOW PROJECTION OF THE SUPPORTMEMBER HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING ONE END OF THE POST TO SUPPORTSAID POST IN A POSITION DEFINING AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OFTHE FLANGE OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, AND FASTENING MEANS FOR SECURING BOTHSAID GLANGES TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SAID HOLLOWPROJECTIONS AND TO SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE, SAID HOLLOW PROJECTIONSCOMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER TO DEFINE A CAVITY THE WALLS OF WHICH SUPPORTTHE POST IN SAID POSITION.